diff --git a/src/main/groovy/offtopic/Configuration.groovy b/src/main/groovy/offtopic/Configuration.groovy
index 02bda35..1531b42 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/offtopic/Configuration.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/offtopic/Configuration.groovy
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import groovy.util.logging.Slf4j
 @Singleton
 @Slf4j
 class Configuration extends Properties {
+    static final String DEFAULT_ZOOKEEPERS = 'localhost:2181'
     /**
      * Load defaults, starting in the current working directory, searching for
      * 'offtopic.properties'
diff --git a/src/main/groovy/offtopic/OfftopicClient.groovy b/src/main/groovy/offtopic/OfftopicClient.groovy
index 00a658c..a05440a 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/offtopic/OfftopicClient.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/offtopic/OfftopicClient.groovy
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class OfftopicClient {
                 return
             }
 
-            KafkaSubscriber subscriber =  new KafkaSubscriber(System.getProperty('zookeepers') ?: Configuration.instance.zookeepers,
+            KafkaSubscriber subscriber =  new KafkaSubscriber(System.getProperty('zookeepers') ?: Configuration.DEFAULT_ZOOKEEPERS,
                                                                 topic,
                                                                 "offtopic-${clientId}")
             subscriber.callback = this.messageCallback
diff --git a/src/ratpack/ratpack.groovy b/src/ratpack/ratpack.groovy
index 2e1693f..f1e584b 100644
--- a/src/ratpack/ratpack.groovy
+++ b/src/ratpack/ratpack.groovy
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import offtopic.OfftopicClient
 ratpack {
     bindings {
         offtopic.Configuration.instance.loadDefaults()
-        offtopic.curator.CuratorPool.prepare(System.getProperty('zookeepers') ?: Configuration.instance.zookeepers)
+        offtopic.curator.CuratorPool.prepare(System.getProperty('zookeepers') ?: Configuration.DEFAULT_ZOOKEEPERS)
         module HandlebarsModule
         module JacksonModule
     }